DHARAMSHALA, November 08, 2016: The passing of His Eminence Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche in late April this year is considered a huge loss to the Tibetan Buddhism as well as to his numerous disciples and devotees. The Holy Kudung of the late Rinpoche departed from U.S to India on 5th November, 2016 for the Parinirvana Cremation Ceremony which will take place in New Delhi on 11th November, 2016.
In an announcement made by the Sakya Monlam Foundation in India back in September, the decision post his thukdam state to bring the Holy body of H.H Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche to the Land of Arya was made after a council meet held by the two Sakya Phodrangs, Drolma Phodrand and Phuntsok Phodrang.
A dedicated three day special farewell puja to the Sakya Rinpoche is held at the Phuntsok Phodrang in New Delhi from 8th November to 10th November, 2016 during which the body will be available for public viewing. After which the Cremation Ceremony will be held on 11th November, it said.
Reception of monks and nuns from the Sakya seats and from different monasteries and Sangha members are being arranged by the Sakya Phuntsok Phodrang and Sakya Monlam Foundation for the four days procession.
Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism is one of the five sects of Tibetan Buddhism. His Eminence Sakya Jigdrel Dagchen Rinpoche Ngawang Kunga Sonam was in the twenty-sixth in the Sakya- Khon lineage of the Phuntsok branch of the Sakya School. He was born on 2nd November 1929 in south-western Tibet.
He founded the Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism (Sakya Thekchen Choeling) in Seattle, Washington, where he taught and preserved Tibetan culture and religion. Since then, Rinpoche had travelled extensively around the world including India, Singapore, Malaysia and Europe to give empowerments and teachings at the request of devotees. He continued on his teachings to everyone until his journey into Parinirvana on 29th April 2016. He was 88 years old.